Scott Bryan's Blog, page 21

The Most Honest Three Minutes In Television History

Please forgive the swearing but DON'T YOU DARE ignore the message because of it! Stop telling me what's wrong with the "other side" and LISTEN to this. Yes it's scripted, yes it's from some movie that I don't even know but whomever wrote those lines for Jeff Daniels to say knew what is really going on. We need to fix things. Not point hateful fingers, but FIX things.

Bats vs Crows: Research

Research!

Life! Don't Talk To Me About Life!

This post title comes from the classic silly song,

Life has been crazy for me lately.

I've worked at the same job for the last six years. I'm a CAD drafter for URS. Their Northern Utah branch disposes of hazardous weapons. I use a program called Microstation to produce and edit electrical, piping, mechanical, HVAC and architectural plans.

URS has been under contract to dispose of chemical weapons for the government and we're all done. The lay offs have begun and my RIF (reduction in force) will be October 18th. It's scary. I mean, I'm glad I actually have a date, but what if I can't find a job before then? Sure, they'll give us severance and such, but I'm scared.

So I haven't been able to really find the time to write or edit. A lot of my time is spent on the job hunt or my regular work or my family. When I do have down time I've chosen to relax instead of engaging my brain.

But I'm going to try to do better so all I can do is ask you to bear with me for a bit.

Thanks guys.

Summer Reads For Tweens

Author Mikey Brooks has invited me to take part in his Summer Reads promotion seen here.

 If you have kids between the ages of 9-14, here’s a great summer reading list for them. I am part of a 99 cent eBook sale taking place next week, Monday through Friday. Check out these great books that will ALL BE JUST $.99 EACH!! Reads for Tweens:

1. Six Degrees Lost, by Linda Benson http://www.amazon.com/Six-Degrees-of-Lost-ebook/dp/B0087XI14E/
2. The Girl Remembered Horses, by Linda Benson http:...//www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Remembered-Horses-ebook/dp/B00635UBW8/
3. The Dream Keeper, by Mikey Brooks http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-Keeper-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00CPE0PT0
4. Night Children: Dark Threats, by Scott Bryan http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005E59LOC
5. The Secret Sisters Club, by Monique Bucheger http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Sisters-Club-ebook/dp/B007IK2WF6
6. Trouble Blows West, by Monique Bucheger http://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Blows-West-Adventures-ebook/dp/B007TYSLF6
7. Through the Mirror and Into Snow (Before Happily Ever After), by Ann T Bugg
8. Michaela’s Gift, by Cordelia Dinsmore http://www.amazon.com/Through-Mirror-Before-Happily-ebook/dp/B00C2HOECO
9. Of Mice and Magic, by David Farland http://www.amazon.com/Ravenspell-Book-Magic-Series-ebook/dp/B006UA85PQ
10. The Sapphire Flute, by Karen E. Hoover http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Flute-Wolfchild-Saga-ebook/dp/B005711LYQ
11. The Armor of Light, by Karen E. Karen Hoover http://www.amazon.com/Armor-Light-Wolfchild-Saga-ebook/dp/B005LA34E8
12. Two Souls Are Better Than One, by Karen E. Hoover http://www.amazon.com/Better-Misadventures-Teenage-Wizard-ebook/dp/B006I0I3QO
13. And the Mountain Burns, by Karen E. Hoover http://www.amazon.com/And-the-Mountain-Burns-ebook/dp/B005LZBPNA
14. The Quill Pen, by Michelle Isenhoff http://www.amazon.com/The-Quill-Pen-ebook/dp/B005XC5O9M
15. Song of the Mountain, by Michelle Isenhoff http://www.amazon.com/Song-of-the-Mountain-ebook/dp/B00A8V6DL6
16. The Color of Freedom, by Michelle Isenhoff http://www.amazon.com/The-Color-of-Freedom-ebook/dp/B004OEILPE
17. Taylor Davis and the Flame of Findul, by Michelle Isenhoff http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Davis-Flame-Findul-ebook/dp/B00CMA97XC/
18. Gangsterland, by Ansha Kotyk http://www.amazon.com/Gangsterland-Ink-Portal-Adventure-ebook/dp/B009YJT12G
19. Andy Smithson: Blast of the Dragon's Fury, by L.R.W. Lee http://www.amazon.com/Andy-Smithson-Blast-Dragons-ebook/dp/B00CMUMCTS/
20. Slippers of Pearl, by Danyelle Leafty : http://www.amazon.com/Slippers-Pearl-Cobbler-Series-ebook/dp/B008IHKBNI
21. Of Wind and Winter, by Danyelle Leafty http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Winter-Tales-Queen-ebook/dp/B00CIJ88FA
22. The Circle of Law, by Lia London http://www.amazon.com/The-Circle-Ancients-Drandsil-ebook/dp/B008RDKIYU
23. Magian High, by Lia London http://www.amazon.com/Magian-High-ebook/dp/B00AF57F0I
24. A Pony For The Fair, by Inge Moore http://www.amazon.com/Pony-For-Fair-Gypsy-ebook/dp/B00AUA75X0
25. The Hidden Sun, by J. Lloyd Morgan http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Sun-Bariwon-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00CCJKZI4
26. The Super Spies and the High School Bomber, by Lisa Lisa Orchard http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-School-Bomber-ebook/dp/B008P8O7OY
27. The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer, by Lisa Orchard http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-Lady-Killer-ebook/dp/B007JZH61K
28. Trapped: A Tale of Friendship Bog, by Gloria Repp http://www.amazon.com/Trapped-Tale-Friendship-Tales-ebook/dp/B00B9L1W7Y
29. A Difference of Purpose: A Novel of the American Civil War, by Terry Soileau http://www.amazon.com/DIFFERENCE-OF-PURPOSE-American-ebook/dp/B008QG0NKW
30. The Mother-Earth Series Omnibus, by Alan Tucker (3 books in one!) http://www.amazon.com/The-Mother-Earth-Series-Omnibus-ebook/dp/B007BSD0H4

Check it out!


//www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Remembered-Horses-ebook/dp/B00635UBW8///www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Remembered-Horses-ebook/dp/B00635UBW8/

Can I Mention Brand Name Products in My Fiction? by Mark Fowler

Mark Fowler over at the RIGHTS OF WRITERS site posted an article awhile back about whether as authors
I think this is an important topic because anything we write set in the modern world would be affected. Go check it out!

My Amazon bestseller made me nothing by Patrick Wensink

Patrick Wensink posted a great article on just why the popular thinking about rich authors is way off. You can read it here.

I've never written a word to get rich. I know it will never happen and it's not the right reason to write. I write so I can find out what will happen to these characters. If others like the stories, even better! :)

Why You Should Avoid Succeeding as a Writer by Michael Brent Collings

This article by Michael Brent Collings, found on  the LDS Publisher site, is great for authors who need to find perspective in the writing career.

Instead of trying to be a successful author, think of what makes you happy about writing. Why are you really doing it?

For me it's discovering where these stories lead and sharing them with others. Period. When I think of it this way, it removes the stress and helps me focus on creating the story.

Bite of Story Thursday

I'm still working in In-between story NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK LOSS and it's not ready for a sneak peek so here is something that is with the reviewers; NIGHT CHILDREN: DARK CHANGES. It's Book Two in the main Annabelle series. As always, this is from the rough draft so it does not reflect the final product. Enjoy!

-----

Night Children: Dark Changes
Chapter Twenty-Two
Rescuers





“You want to do what?  This is not going to end well.”  Rachael sat on a large rock, looking out to the dark ocean.  She threw a small stone ten feet into the approaching waves.
The two of them decided to go for a walk and found their path led to the southern shore.  Roland came to love these quiet moments between them.  He felt safe in a pocket of time where Reginald and the other Bloody-Buccaneers couldn’t find them.  He would allow his heart to briefly peer above the dark clouds that always swallowed him every time he remembered his sister’s voice.
Sitting beside Rach, he threw his own stone just a tad farther.  “I can’t continue to let him get away with this.  It’s wrong and you know it.”
“But what you’re suggesting is madness.”  She turned to him.  He saw fear in her once brave eyes.  “Can’t you see that?  Reginald will catch you and kill you.  He has all sorts of ways, believe me.”
“You said I’m his new favorite.”
“So?  Don’t you get it?  He’ll kill you simply to set an example.  No one is immune.”  A bitter expression took over her face as she returned her gaze to the sea.
“Only if he catches me,” she rolled her eyes at his comment.  “But that’s something I’ll deal with.  I can’t let them do this.  I was human, too.  Those are people, Rach.  If there is one thing I learned from my parents, my adoptive mother Eliza and my sister it’s that people matter.  They should be treated decently.  What good is power if we just sit on our hands and let the Kalinago be sacrificed?”
She gave him a blank look but he didn’t care.  The more he talked about those poor souls the more he simply knew they had to be rescued.  If he had to die in the process, well at least Eliza and Annabelle would’ve been proud.
He stood up on the large rock and held out his hand.  “Come.  Let me show you something.”

Wil Wheaton - Why it's awesome to be a nerd

This explains how I feel about who I am.  This is me.


Well done Mr. Wheaton. Well done.

The A to Z Challenge! Z is for Zzzzzzz.

OK, I realize how pathetic that is, making Z for zzzzz because I'm tired. I tried to think of something and zoo did come to mind. I guess it's because I've been pretty tired, hence the zzzs.

It's been quite a month in what could be a very big year. My job is up this November. That's when I'll probably be laid off. So a lot of my time has gone to job hunting. If you add that to my responsibilities as a husband, father and full time breadwinner, it gets hectic. When I have time and I'm not creating blog entries, I'm trying to relax because of burn out. I haven't had much time to write or edit.

My goals now that the A to Z blog hop is done will probably be to finish preparing the second editions of Dark Threats and Dark Birth and do massive rewrites to Book Two (Dark Changes).

At any rate, thanks to all who visited and my thanks to those who commented. I visited others when I could and hope to do more. This blog hop has been a great tool to keep me blogging. It's been an interesting challenge to come up with things for each letter and I've enjoyed it very much.

I have an idea for next year so we'll see how it works.

Thanks to everyone!